Benoy has unveiled a bold masterplan and architectural design for the core Minghu district of Ningbo Eastern New Town. Guided by the concept of “harmony between landscape and city, symbiosis with nature,” the scheme weaves local culture and natural textures into a unified planning vision.
The result is a dynamic TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) urban landmark that brings together commercial offices, residential apartments, and community services.
Pushing design boundaries, Benoy introduced an innovative “mall + elevated street market” concept that transforms the site into a multi-level urban park with a rich, layered commercial experience. Architectural façades blend regional cultural elements with local natural textures, reinforcing both identity and spatial distinctiveness. Along the waterfront, curated landscapes and refined urban interfaces activate the retail zone, shaping a lively new destination at the city’s edge.
Benoy reimagines traditional layouts through a three-dimensional spatial framework that maximises the potential of the Minghu lakefront. The masterplan centres on five core functions — supertall headquarters offices, TOD mixed-use development, lakeside resort retail, luxury hotels, and high-quality residential zones — strategically layered to create a vibrant, multifunctional urban fabric.
At its core, the TOD commercial and office complex is anchored by a major transport hub, seamlessly integrated with public transit and extending its reach across adjacent business and office districts to establish a dynamic, connected city centre.
The project also introduces a series of signature experiences — including a sky canopy, observation platforms, an underground water street market, a pedestrian and cycling bridge, and vibrant waterfront retail. These elements weave natural landscapes into the architectural fabric, creating a seamless blend of ecology and function that embodies the core vision of “Blending city and nature in ecological harmony,” reflecting a vision where urban development and natural landscapes are interwoven, creating a sustainable and livable environment.
Benoy’s design, characterised by its layered spatial structure and inventive expression of regional identity — aims to establish a vibrant, ecologically livable, and functionally integrated new landmark for Ningbo.
Beyond its local impact, the project holds potential as a model for urban regeneration across the Yangtze River Delta, offering a forward-looking vision for the evolution of the cities of tomorrow.
